You need more than college counseling. You need College Hero.
Get into your best fit college
Your ticket to a clear, calm, and fully supported college application experience—starting now.
From grades and activities to essays, applications, college lists, scholarships, and deadlines, we help your teen stay on track, stand out authentically, and feel supported every step of the way—without the overwhelm.
Getting into college is hard. Now imagine doing it all without, strategy, support and a plan.
Most families think college applications are something you deal with “when the time comes,” while quietly stressing about them in the background.
But here’s the truth: families who start earlier feel more in control, less overwhelmed, and far more confident, because they have a clear, strategic plan.
College applications are not just about submitting forms. They are about intentionally shaping your teen’s high school experience, helping them make smart decisions, and giving colleges a compelling, authentic story of who they are and why they belong.
That does not mean your teen needs gimmicks, fake passion projects, or a perfect resume. It means they need expert guidance, proven strategy, real support, and someone who knows exactly how all the pieces fit together, before deadlines start closing in.
Meet The College Hero Program
Think college planning has to be confusing, stressful, or overwhelming? It doesn't
With College Hero, your family is fully supported through the entire application process using our proven College Hero Method. We guide your student through every critical step while keeping parents informed, organized, and confident about what’s happening next—so nothing falls through the cracks.
Inside the program, you get:
- • One-on-one monthly Zoom sessions to stay focused, get answers fast, and keep momentum strong
- • Powerful tools, templates, and Google Drive resources to keep everything streamlined and organized
- • Hands-on project management support so your family stays in control without managing every detail
- • Complete, step-by-step guidance so you never have to second-guess if you’re missing something
Because when your teen wants to go to college, there is one real opportunity to tell their story the right way, and that story starts long before the application is submitted.
That is College Hero.
Book your fit call • Book your intro session • Start your program
I was especially impressed by how Robert evaluated college fit, not just by academic strength and reputation, but by culture and environment, and whether a school would truly help my son thrive and grow.
Nobody is failing. The system just isn't built for this.
Here's what I usually see when a family finds me in the fall of senior year: a teen who hasn't started their essays, a parent who has become the household's least popular project manager, and a school counselor doing their best across a caseload in the hundreds. (The national average is roughly 385 students per counselor.)
Nobody in that picture is failing. The system just isn't designed to give your teen an adult whose entire job is them: their list, their essays, their deadlines, their future. That is the job I built College Torch to do.
And when a family starts earlier, in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade, we skip the panic entirely and do this the calm way.
A full-journey partnership, not just application-season help.
The College Hero Program begins the day you find me and ends May 1st of senior year, when your teen chooses where they belong. It comes in two depths, Quest and Odyssey (more on those below), and every stage produces something real, with a name.
The College Torch Promise: Every College Hero student finishes their applications by a single shared deadline, December 15th. No scrambling in January. Done, reviewed, and submitted, every year.
The right college is also a financial decision.
From the very start of the search, I factor merit-aid potential, demonstrated need, and net cost into every element of fit. The goal is a college list where your teen belongs and where the numbers make sense.
All students above were accepted and offered scholarships at these institutions. Individual results vary based on student profile and college policies.
From the Luminaries and their families.
Start your Hero's Journey.
Four clear steps, and every one is low-risk. You will always know exactly what comes next.
One program. Two depths.
Every College Hero student gets the full College Torch journey, from your first meeting to enrollment day. The only question is how deep the partnership goes. Quest is complete on its own. Odyssey adds the deepest layers of support, research, and protection. And you don't have to figure this out yourself: After the Clarity Session, I recommend a depth for your teen, in writing, with my reasoning.
See everything in QuestHide full list
See everything Odyssey addsHide full list
Not sure which one fits your family? You don't have to know yet. Book the free Right-Fit Call, and after ninety minutes of real work in the Clarity Session, I'll recommend a depth based on your teen and your goals, with my reasoning in writing. You decide from there.
A note for LGBTQ+ families: every college list I build is LGBTQ+-informed. Odyssey adds dedicated, written climate research for every school on the list.
Let's Get Started.
Your exact investment comes down to two things: the depth you choose, and the grade your teen starts. An earlier start means a longer, deeper partnership. Both depths and every grade are priced right here, and we'll talk through your numbers on the free Right-Fit Call, before any commitment.
In several recent cases, a single merit scholarship offer earned for a College Torch student was worth roughly ten times the cost of the Odyssey program. Financial strategy is built into your college list from the start, not added as an afterthought.
| Student starts in | Quest | Odyssey |
|---|---|---|
| 9th grade | $12,500 | $18,500 |
| 10th grade | $11,500 | $17,000 |
| 11th grade | $10,500 | $15,500 |
| 12th grade | $12,000 | Quest only |
A note on 12th grade: Quest is the designated program for students entering application season. Senior year compresses the entire process into its most intensive months, which is why it's priced above a junior-year start, and it's exactly what Quest is built for. It's what we do best.
The Clarity Session is guaranteed. Sit down with me and leave with your teen's Clarity Map: a clear, written direction for the search. If you don't, the session is free.
Starting in 9th or 10th grade? A longer 12-month plan is available. Just ask on your call.
A free 20-minute conversation to start. I take a limited number of new families each year.
The questions I hear most.
How is this different from our school counselor?
Your school counselor is probably wonderful, and probably responsible for a few hundred students. (The national average is roughly 385 to 1, and even at private schools, counselor access is rarely as deep as families expect, especially once the workday ends.) I work with a limited number of families each year, I meet with your teen one-on-one for months or years rather than minutes, and I hold myself accountable to named deliverables and a hard deadline: every application done by December 15. I'm also frequently available on evenings and weekends, because that's exactly when families tend to need me. We do different jobs, and your teen benefits from both of us.
Do you write the essays?
No, and you should run from anyone who does. Admissions readers know an adult's writing when they see it, and your teen's real voice is their single best asset. What I do is brainstorm with them, push them to get specific, and edit draft after draft until the essay sounds like the best version of them. The words are always theirs.
How much time will my teen actually commit?
We meet one to two times per month through most of high school, and more often during application season. Between meetings, your teen has real assignments in the Application Hub. Plan on a few hours a month early on, building to several hours a week in the summer before senior year. It's real work. That's why it works.
What if my teen is reluctant or unmotivated?
Extremely common, and honestly, part of what you're hiring me for. Teens often resist this process with their parents and then engage with it alongside a neutral adult who isn't grading them or raising them. Some of my most reluctant starters have become my most invested Luminaries. And you get to go back to just being their parent.
Does this really work over Zoom?
Yes. College Torch works with families nationwide, and the program is built for it: live one-on-one meetings, a shared Application Hub where every essay and deadline lives, and Telegram support between sessions. Distance changes nothing about the outcome.
When is the right time to start?
The best time is 9th or 10th grade, when we can build your teen's story instead of retrofitting it, and when the 12-month payment plan is available. The most common time is 11th grade, and it's a great time to start. And if your teen is already a senior, that's exactly what Quest is built for. The only wrong time to start is after the deadlines have passed.
I believe that when we do this work together, really do it, with honesty and care and the full College Torch process, you will find a college where you belong. A place that fits who you are, supports how you learn, and gives you what you need to thrive.
If that doesn't happen, if you arrive and realize it isn't right, and you decide to transfer, I'll be there. Odyssey families receive my full college search and application support for the transfer process, at no additional cost, within three years of their initial enrollment.
This isn't a safety net I expect you to need. It's a reflection of how seriously I take the search.
The right college is out there. Let's go find it.
There is a college that fits who your teen is, values what they bring, and gives them everything they need to thrive. Finding it is what I do, and it starts with one free conversation.
Questions? Email robert@collegetorch.com or call (626) 605-6821
The College Torch Approach
Hi, I’m Robert! I don't just help your teen get into an impressive school I help them arrive at a space where they'll be genuinely supported and set up for success starting the next phase of their life.
Getting into college seems simple. Work with your counselor, fill out the app and send it in right? That’s where most families start to realize maybe there’s more to this than it seems.
Holding two degrees from Johns Hopkins University and doing this work for over a decade. I’ve lived what your family and teen are going through and built the process to make arriving at your best fit school a smooth ride.
One thing I want to be crystal clear about: Fit is not a consolation prize. My students have landed at Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth, and Northeastern, because those were the right places for them. A lot of our work together is building your teen’s profile so they become an authentically stronger applicant, with more doors open when it’s time to choose. If a highly selective college is the right fit, we do the work it takes to get there, together.
My students call themselves Luminaries. That feels right to me.
Start your Hero's Journey.
Four clear steps, and every one is low-risk. You will always know exactly what comes next.
One program. Two depths.
Every College Hero student gets the full College Torch journey, from your first meeting to enrollment day. The only question is how deep the partnership goes. Quest is complete on its own. Odyssey adds the deepest layers of support, research, and protection. And you don't have to figure this out yourself: After the Clarity Session, I recommend a depth for your teen, in writing, with my reasoning.
See everything in QuestHide full list
See everything Odyssey addsHide full list
Not sure which one fits your family? You don't have to know yet. Book the free Right-Fit Call, and after ninety minutes of real work in the Clarity Session, I'll recommend a depth based on your teen and your goals, with my reasoning in writing. You decide from there.
A note for LGBTQ+ families: every college list I build is LGBTQ+-informed. Odyssey adds dedicated, written climate research for every school on the list.
What College Hero costs.
Your exact investment comes down to two things: the depth you choose, and the grade your teen starts. An earlier start means a longer, deeper partnership. Both depths and every grade are priced right here, and we'll talk through your numbers on the free Right-Fit Call, before any commitment.
In several recent cases, a single merit scholarship offer earned for a College Torch student was worth roughly ten times the cost of the Odyssey program. Financial strategy is built into your college list from the start, not added as an afterthought.
| Student starts in | Quest | Odyssey |
|---|---|---|
| 9th grade | $12,500 | $18,500 |
| 10th grade | $11,500 | $17,000 |
| 11th grade | $10,500 | $15,500 |
| 12th grade | $12,000 | Quest only |
A note on 12th grade: Quest is the designated program for students entering application season. Senior year compresses the entire process into its most intensive months, which is why it's priced above a junior-year start, and it's exactly what Quest is built for. It's what we do best.
The Clarity Session is guaranteed. Sit down with me and leave with your teen's Clarity Map: a clear, written direction for the search. If you don't, the session is free.
Starting in 9th or 10th grade? A longer 12-month plan is available. Just ask on your call.
A free 20-minute conversation to start. I take a limited number of new families each year.
The questions I hear most.
How is this different from our school counselor?
Your school counselor is probably wonderful, and probably responsible for a few hundred students. (The national average is roughly 385 to 1, and even at private schools, counselor access is rarely as deep as families expect, especially once the workday ends.) I work with a limited number of families each year, I meet with your teen one-on-one for months or years rather than minutes, and I hold myself accountable to named deliverables and a hard deadline: every application done by December 15. I'm also frequently available on evenings and weekends, because that's exactly when families tend to need me. We do different jobs, and your teen benefits from both of us.
Do you write the essays?
No, and you should run from anyone who does. Admissions readers know an adult's writing when they see it, and your teen's real voice is their single best asset. What I do is brainstorm with them, push them to get specific, and edit draft after draft until the essay sounds like the best version of them. The words are always theirs.
How much time will my teen actually commit?
We meet one to two times per month through most of high school, and more often during application season. Between meetings, your teen has real assignments in the Application Hub. Plan on a few hours a month early on, building to several hours a week in the summer before senior year. It's real work. That's why it works.
What if my teen is reluctant or unmotivated?
Extremely common, and honestly, part of what you're hiring me for. Teens often resist this process with their parents and then engage with it alongside a neutral adult who isn't grading them or raising them. Some of my most reluctant starters have become my most invested Luminaries. And you get to go back to just being their parent.
Does this really work over Zoom?
Yes. College Torch works with families nationwide, and the program is built for it: live one-on-one meetings, a shared Application Hub where every essay and deadline lives, and Telegram support between sessions. Distance changes nothing about the outcome. If you're local to the Los Angeles area, you're welcome to swap in an occasional in-person meeting at our Sierra Madre office, too. Just ask, and we'll find a time that works, schedule permitting.
When is the right time to start?
The best time is 9th or 10th grade, when we can build your teen's story instead of retrofitting it, and when the 12-month payment plan is available. The most common time is 11th grade, and it's a great time to start. And if your teen is already a senior, that's exactly what Quest is built for. The only wrong time to start is after the deadlines have passed.
I believe that when we do this work together, really do it, with honesty and care and the full College Torch process, you will find a college where you belong. A place that fits who you are, supports how you learn, and gives you what you need to thrive.
If that doesn't happen, if you arrive and realize it isn't right, and you decide to transfer, I'll be there. Odyssey families receive my full college search and application support for the transfer process, at no additional cost, within three years of their initial enrollment.
This isn't a safety net I expect you to need. It's a reflection of how seriously I take the search.
The right college is out there. Let's go find it.
There is a college that fits who your teen is, values what they bring, and gives them everything they need to thrive. Finding it is what I do, and it starts with one free conversation.
Questions? Email robert@collegetorch.com or call (626) 605-6821